Spirited Saints Women fall narrowly short of an Adran Premier Championship place

Match Report

Goals: Chapman (1), L.Lewis (57), Barlow (90+5)
Substitutions: Barlow for Edge (65), Dunkerley for B.Lewis (75)

Match report by Michael Davies
Lead image: Sam Eaden (FAW)

It was a 3-3 draw for The New Saints Women against Aberystwyth Town at Park Avenue to fall just short of a place in the Championship Conference of the Genero Adran Premier.

It was a game that went back and too, as Caitlin Chapman initially gave The New Saints a goal lead early on before Amy Jenkins equalised midway through the first-half. Niamh Duggan then gave the hosts a 2-1 prior to Lia Lewis making it 2-2. Rebecca Mathias then made it 3-2 to Aberystwyth, with Mel Barlow finding a third for The Saints in injury time for the match to end all-square.

Sunday’s result means Greg Draper’s team go into the Adran Premier Pate for phase two below Aberystwyth on goal difference.

The New Saints Women took the lead in the first minute of the game, as Caitlin Chapman whipped in a ball from 20-yards away that Margot Fanes couldn’t gather, which led to the effort going into the back of the net.

Moments on, Niamh Duggan had an opportunity for the hosts from outside the box that was comfortably dealt with by the returning Mackenzie Haydn-Jones.

In the 25th minute, The New Saints skipper, Beth Lewis, had a shot from outside the 18-yard-area that narrowly went over the crossbar, with Greg Draper’s team knocking on the door for a second.

Just before the half-hour mark, Helen Evans managed to get an effort away from 25-yards out, but Farnes was there to stop the ball.

In the 32nd minute, Haydn-Jones managed to make a terrific save to keep out Imogen Scourfield following a corner from Duggan.

Aberystwyth Town did an equaliser soon after, as Modlen Gwynne crossed in a ball that found the captain, Amy Jenkins, who managed to head the ball over Haydn-Jones and into the net.

The Oswestry based-team were back on the attack In the 36th minute, as Evans had a shot from 25-yards out, which narrowly went wide of the post.

Soon after, Beth Lewis put in a free-kick that Farnes couldn’t catch that led to the ball hitting the post, before the danger was cleared.

On the edge of half-time, The Saints came close again. Chapman had a strike in the box that inches close to going in, as the opportunity came off the crossbar. 

At the start of the second 45, Duggan played a through ball to Lily Moralee-Hughes for the hosts, that found Aberystwyth’s number 14 in the box, who had a shot from close range, however Haydn-Jones was there to make an excellent save.

The Seasiders took a 2-1 lead in the 54th minute through a Duggan free-kick that went flying into the next from outside the 18-yard-area.

Not long before the hour, TNS equalised through a marvellous Lia Lewis strike from inside the box that went powering into the net from 12-yards out.

On the hour mark the hosts went back ahead again. Duggan put in a free-kick from the halfway line that went all the way in the box, and found Rebecca Mathias in the box, who hit the ball into the net from six-yards away.

In stoppage time, TNS got an equaliser through new signing, Mel Barlow. The substitute got passed in a ball by Lia Lewis and Barlow found the bottom-left corner of the net.

It was not enough for TNS on this occasion, as the team just fell short of a top-four place on goal difference to Aberystwyth.

Draper’s side are next in action against Swansea City in the Genero Adran Trophy semi-finals at Park Hall Stadium on Sunday, February 25th.